Adv Polym Sci (2013) 254: 135–168
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_197
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Hydroxyapatite-Packed Chitosan-PMMA
Nanocomposite: A Promising Material for
Construction of Synthetic Bone
Arundhati Bhowmick, Subhash Banerjee, Ratnesh Kumar,
and Patit Paban Kundu
Abstract Natural bone is a composite material composed of organic compounds
(mainly collagen) and inorganic compounds (minerals). The inorganic or mineral
component of bone primarily consists of crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp),
[Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ], which is present in bones as a major component (60–65%).
In recent years, bioactive polymer/HAp nanocomposite materials have been
investigated extensively as templates for the regeneration and reconstruction of
bone tissue. The advantages of using polymeric biomaterials include ease of
manufacturing the components with various simple as well as complex shapes,
reasonable cost, and their ability to possess a wide range of physical and mechanical
properties. Among other biomaterials, chitosan, a natural polysaccharide composed
of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine units linked in β-(1–4) manner and
derived from chitin by partial or complete deacetylation, has played a major role
in bone tissue engineering over the last two decades. However, the poor mechanical
strength of chitosan has restricted its practical application in bone tissue engineering. Thus, enhancement of the mechanical properties of chitosan is highly desirable.
Blending of chitosan with a synthetic polymer having good mechanical properties
(e.g. poly methylmethacrylate) could be helpful in increasing the mechanical
properties of chitosan. Moreover, the biodegradability and biocompatibility of
chitosan makes HAp-packed chitosan nanocomposite materials attractive for the
A. Bhowmick and P.P. Kundu (*)
Department of Polymer Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, 92 Acharya Prafulla
Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, WB, India
e-mail: ppk923@yahoo.com
S. Banerjee
Department of Chemistry, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Koni, Bilaspur 495009, CG, India
R. Kumar
National Instutute of Orthopaedic Hadicapped, B.T. Road, Bon-Hoogly, Kolkata 700 090, India
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_197
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Hydroxyapatite-Packed Chitosan-PMMA
Nanocomposite: A Promising Material for
Construction of Synthetic Bone
Arundhati Bhowmick, Subhash Banerjee, Ratnesh Kumar,
and Patit Paban Kundu
Abstract Natural bone is a composite material composed of organic compounds
(mainly collagen) and inorganic compounds (minerals). The inorganic or mineral
component of bone primarily consists of crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp),
[Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ], which is present in bones as a major component (60–65%).
In recent years, bioactive polymer/HAp nanocomposite materials have been
investigated extensively as templates for the regeneration and reconstruction of
bone tissue. The advantages of using polymeric biomaterials include ease of
manufacturing the components with various simple as well as complex shapes,
reasonable cost, and their ability to possess a wide range of physical and mechanical
properties. Among other biomaterials, chitosan, a natural polysaccharide composed
of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine units linked in β-(1–4) manner and
derived from chitin by partial or complete deacetylation, has played a major role
in bone tissue engineering over the last two decades. However, the poor mechanical
strength of chitosan has restricted its practical application in bone tissue engineering. Thus, enhancement of the mechanical properties of chitosan is highly desirable.
Blending of chitosan with a synthetic polymer having good mechanical properties
(e.g. poly methylmethacrylate) could be helpful in increasing the mechanical
properties of chitosan. Moreover, the biodegradability and biocompatibility of
chitosan makes HAp-packed chitosan nanocomposite materials attractive for the
A. Bhowmick and P.P. Kundu (*)
Department of Polymer Science and Technology, University of Calcutta, 92 Acharya Prafulla
Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, WB, India
e-mail: ppk923@yahoo.com
S. Banerjee
Department of Chemistry, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Koni, Bilaspur 495009, CG, India
R. Kumar
National Instutute of Orthopaedic Hadicapped, B.T. Road, Bon-Hoogly, Kolkata 700 090, India